Number 4 Reunion

If you've read my blog in the past you are well aware of number 4; our college best friends.  Number 4 was the town house Michael shared with his fraternity brothers Nick and James.  Linda, Misty and I were the three sorority sisters who were constantly around.  We are all six still great friends to this day, the distance between us now is pretty significant but that has not effected our friendship.  Nick lives in Melbourne Australia, Misty lives in London, Linda lives in Oklahoma City and James is in Houston with us.  

Nick and Misty were both in town for the holidays so we were all able to meet up, minus Linda who was already back home in OKC (at least we were able to see her Christmas day).  We met at Buffalo Wild Wings with Connor and Allie in tow.  It's been two years since we've seen Nick and it's always special to see him, you really learn to appreciate someone when they are so far away.  Luckily even though Misty has been in London for two years she comes home several times a year and I see her almost every visit.  I think it really says something about our friendship that both Linda and Misty have made trips down under to see Nick.  Fingers crossed Michael and I will make a trip in a few years, we just need for the kids of ours to get a little bigger.

We retold so many funny stories today; number 4 Christmas and secret Santa, Tiger Woods Golf tee offs, borrowing Misty's car at Spring Break, Cuddling to Star Wars, Nick accidentally wearing his girlfriends jeans, walkie talkies on campus; I could go on and on.  

Oh how I miss these guys, I'll just look forward to the next number 4 reunion, hopefully with all six members.

Week 19

Well their wasn't supposed to be a week 19, we were supposed to close on the house today.  However the house is not complete so we had to push the closing back to the 31st.  They are still doing some retouching and minor things.  We do know that their will be a few things that won't be done before the 31st; the gate for the driveway, the ovens and refrigerator will all be replaced and installed a week after closing.

I went by the house today and it looks amazing, I can't wait to start moving in!  Everything has turned out beautiful, their have been a few minor things that we might want to change in the next year or two but overall we couldn't be happier.  I'm going to hold off on pictures until we are actually homeowners next week.

On Our Third Day of Christmas...

On our third day of Christmas...

I really thought Connor would wake up early, I guess he was worn out from the day before.  Nana and G.G. stayed the night with us and my family, including my Papaw who is 93 drove down to watch the kids in action.  We started unwrapping presents around 8:30 and it seemed like a marathon between the gifts from Santa, Mom and Dad and Grammy and Grumpa.  Apparently are kids were perfect angels this year based on the amount of gifts they received.

Connor's presents from Santa.

 Allie's stack.

 Digging into the stockings.

 Who wouldn't grin for Minnie Mouse bubble bath.

 Chocolate Santa.

 The Minnie Mouse music purse was one of the first things Allie opened, we could have stopped there because she was entranced with this.

 Power Rangers Samuri gear!

 Allie's Lady and the Tramp book that came with a necklace (she is obsessed with Lady).

 Admiring her Lady necklace.

 Nana and her Ironman shirt, getting her geared out for the big race in May.

 More Power Rangers!

 This was one of my favorite moments of the day, my mom received a beautiful Tory Burch necklace.  As soon as Allie saw it she started pulling at her Lady necklace to take it off.  She then raced over to Grammy so that she could wear the Tory Burch necklace, the girl has good taste!

 And the funniest moment came when  Wade opened a gift of signed Johnny Manziel boxers, we don't know for sure if they are authentic or not.

Michael and I got a special Christmas gift when one of my college best friends, Linda came by to visit.  Linda now lives in Oklahoma City so we don't get to see her often.  Spending time with Linda instantly makes any day better.

Christmas day was fantastic, their is nothing better than spending the day surrounded by family and making memories.  We are so blessed to have such a loving and generous family who was more than willing to go out of their way to spend the holidays with us.  It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

On Our Second Day of Christmas...

On our second day of Christmas...

we woke up bright and early to head to Chad and Shannon's house for Christmas with Michael's brothers, nieces and nephews, Nana and G.G.  It's pretty rare that all three brothers, wives and kids can all get together so it was a lot of fun spending time with everyone and celebrating Christmas with them.

When we walked in you couldn't help but notice the quantity of presents that Nana and G.G. brought for six grand kids, three sons and three daughter-in-laws.  I knew we were going to be busy.  Needless to say we all made out pretty well as usual.  Nana is great about getting everyone together for fun family outings (last year she treated us all to a Christmas trip to Breckenridge).  This year she and G.G. gave us all a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine (look for a post on that family trip in the near future)!

Here are some pictures of the kids being spoiled rotten...

Crew

 Kennedy

 Maddox

 Connor was thrilled to get his first Ninja Turtle toys of Christmas.

 Allie and the beyond cute, giant pink unicorn from Maddox, Crew and Grayson.

 Grayson posing with her gift from us, owl rain boots and a matching umbrella.

 I had to take a picture of the largest inflatable I have ever seen in Chad and Shannon's yard, impressive.

 After our second Christmas we headed home, Nana and G.G. joined us.  I baked and cooked for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.  Everyone else had no choice but to play with all of Connor and Allie's new loot.

We headed to church for a beautiful Christmas Eve service where my parents and brother Wade drove down to The Woodlands to join us which was very much appreciated.  We kept Connor in church with us and he did so great, I was so proud of him.  I'm guessing he didn't want to slip up right before Santa was supposed to stop by our house.

Connor and Allie in their Christmas outfits.

 A rare shot of our family of four, even more rare the fact that we are dressed up!  Can you tell Connor was ready to get home for Santa.

 When we returned home Connor and Allie continued our family tradition of opening a present of Christmas pajamas to wear to bed.

I made our favorite, seafood stew and cornbread and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner and evening with Nana, G.G., Grammy, Grumpa and Wade - I couldn't have asked for anything more.

On Our First Day of Christmas...

On our first day of Christmas...

we went to lunch with Santa and his Elves at the Lodge at Creekside Park.  Our friends the Lucas family joined us.  The kids saw Santa, decorated gingerbread cookies, made ornaments and played.

Stella and Allie.

 Decorating cookies.

 Stella and Jack with Santa, Stella wasn't such a fan of Santa and his elf.

 Connor was pretty excited to see Santa and learn that he had been removed from the naughty list.

 After lunch with Santa we headed home to have Christmas with Papaw, Mamaw and Aunt Hillary.  We must have all been very good because they spoiled us all again.

Allie and Connor opening their very first gifts.

 Connor's Ninja Turtle shirt from Aunt Hillary.

 Allie loved her elephant purse from Aunt Hillary.

 Papaw in action.

 Mamaw getting help from her new Jack Russell puppy, Cory.

 Allie is in love with her new Cinderella doll.

 Connor got a big surprise, a John Deere gator!  Look closely, Connor's came equipped with a Lime-a-Rita.

 His first ride.

 I love this picture.

 Cory hopped in the back for a ride.

 Mamaw and Papaw were good supervisors.

 We went around and around the cul-de-sac.

 Surprise!  Cooper came out and joined us on his 4-wheeler.

 Cooper took a spin.

 Then Connor took a turn as the passenger.

 Allie and Cambelle had their own fun.

 Chad pushing Allie (had to share a picture of her in Cambelle's helmet).

 Precious!

If their was ever a question about who the responsible parents were today it was Ashley and Chad hands down.  Both of their kids had helmets, Chad made a makeshift seat belt for Allie out of a tool box strap.  We however had Allie outside with no shoes and provided alcoholic beverages for everyone.

Mamaw, Papaw and Aunt Hillary thank you for such a wonderful Christmas and coming down to spend time with us.